Reading Round Up: The Best in Gay Fiction for 2009

Posted on December 12, 2009 by Indie Reviews

Virtually all the books I read this year are in the area of gay fiction (erotica, romance, horror, suspense, urban fantasy, western/cowboy, young adult, etc.), and as the year draws to an end I thought I’d put together a list of my favourite books and stories for 2009.

The two books that standout the most and I consider my #1 reads for 2009 are Amnesic Nostalgia by Zea Miller and Fool for Love: New Gay Fiction by editors Timothy J. Lambert and R.D. Cochrane. These two gems rightfully take their place as part of the list of some of my most favourite books.

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No Place Like Home by Rick R. Reed

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Indie Reviews

Burl is horny as hell and he’s just gotta have it! His boyfriend AJ is dead-to-the-world, resonantly snoring and absolutely no help at all. So Burl sets out to find someone who will assist him with his predicament. His unyielding quest for the three Rs: rutting, rimming, and ramming takes Burl from Pennsylvania across New York State, where, along the way he meets up with a series of interesting although progressively unpredictable and even dangerous characters – bears, trannies, and seriously disturbed psychos that have Burl more than clicking his heels and heading for the safety of home.

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Love Means … Courage by Andrew Grey

Posted on November 8, 2009 by Indie Reviews

Len Parker is laid off during the recession in the early eighties and decides to go back to college at home in rural Michigan, where he reconnects with his best friend from high school, Ruby. He’s overjoyed when she marries Cliff Laughton and overcome with sorrow when she dies an untimely death, leaving behind her husband and two-year-old son.

Out of work again, Len finds a job at Cliff Laughton’s sorely neglected farm. Cliff is still mourning his wife, struggling to raise his son, and has little enthusiasm or energy left for work. Len immediately begins to whip the farm – including the two Laughtons – into shape. Working side by side, Len and Cliff grow ever closer, but loving another man takes a lot of courage. They’ll have to stand together as they face a faltering business, threatening drought, misguided family, and Midwestern prejudices to protect what might be a lifelong love.

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Dona Nobis Pacem by Willa Okati

Posted on October 25, 2009 by Indie Reviews

Mute saloon keeper Donnell knows all about prejudice; he’s had to battle it all of his life. He also knows how self-righteous and judgmental the people of the old west town of Nazareth can be, so he isn’t surprised when he sees them spurn requests for work from a man who walks into town looking to be all but on his death bed. Donnell takes the man in and nurses him back to health, falling in love along the way. But is Donnell destined to have his heart broken?

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Love Means … No Shame by Andrew Grey

Posted on September 27, 2009 by Indie Reviews

Geoff is in the city, living the gay life to the hilt, when his father’s death convinces him to return to the family farm. Discovering a young Amish man asleep in his barn, Geoff learns that Eli is spending a year away from the community before accepting baptism into the church. Despite their mutual attraction, Geoff is determined not to become involved with him, but Eli has discovered that Geoff shares his feelings and begins to court him, neatly capturing first Geoff’s attention and then his heart.

Their budding relationship is threatened by closed-minded, gossipy relatives and the society at large, a whole new world to Eli, and he must decide whether to return to the community, his family, and the world and future he knows or to stay with Geoff and have faith in the power of love.

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Love In The Library by J.M. Snyder

Posted on September 20, 2009 by Indie Reviews

My Rating: 4 Star Rating

Johnny’s job at the campus library isn’t as glamorous as it sounds. In fact, when the wheels of the returns cart get stuck in the gap between the floor and the elevator, he’s ready to just quit right there. But a stranger’s kindness leads to chance encounter that improves Johnny’s whole semester.

An elevator possessed and a book cart with a will of its own has Johnny cursing the day he took a job re-stacking returned books at the university library. Next semester he’s definitely applying for a job in the computer lab. He literally falls at Adam’s feet as he struggles to free the damn cart and can’t believe his luck when Adam not only comes to his rescue but also comes on to him. Adam is definitely interested and won’t take no for an answer from this bookish cutie.

Love in the Library by J.M. Snyder is a twenty-something page short story that hits the spot if you’re looking for a light-hearted, romantic and fun read but are pressed for time. Johnny’s library antics will have you laughing and his little “should I, shouldn’t I?” dance with Adam will have you grinning.

Those familiar with Snyder’s stories will recognize the writing style immediately – well-written, intelligent and witty narration and dialogue with attention to detail. Johnny and Adam have great chemistry and even though the smut factor is relatively low in this story, with only the intimation of sex, their scenes “between the stacks” are arousing and hot. Yes, sometimes less is more.

If you’re in the mood for a thoroughly entertaining, sweet and romantic m/m romp I definitely recommend Love in the Library by J.M. Snyder. And the bonus is, it’s available as a free download. Can’t beat that!

Love In The Library by J.M. Snyder is available for free download at JMS Books.

NOTE: This review was originally published online by Rainbow Reviews.

The Queen of Wands by Jenna Jones

Posted on September 13, 2009 by Indie Reviews

All of his adult life, J.T. Fogarty has worked to keep his vast, politically active family safe from scandal. When his late cousin’s son Charlie Tate returns to their hometown for the first time in twenty years, J.T. realizes there’s more to life than covering up other people’s mistakes. J.T. has dealt with his guilt about the accidental death of Charlie’s father by being the “cleaner” for his family, guided by his cousin Dilys. With Charlie back in her sphere of influence, Dilys intends to guide Charlie’s career, and his life, in the same way she has with so many others. However, J.T. is so taken with Charlie that he rebels against Dilys and takes Charlie under his wing, allowing himself to return the attraction Charlie feels for him. Can J.T. and Charlie move beyond the secrets in their past and find a way to stay true to each other?

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The Loss of Innocence by Jay Mandal

Posted on September 13, 2009 by Indie Reviews

A collection of poignant short stories ranging from a two-minute read to longer tales of ordinary people leading ordinary lives until they fall in love and their lives become, for a little while at least, extraordinary. Written with tenderness, humour and compassion, some of the stories are heart-warming, whilst others will break your heart.

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Man’s Best Friend by P.A. Brown

Posted on August 23, 2009 by Indie Reviews

New Mexico, the land of enchantment weaves a spell of love around Todd Richards and Dr. Keith Anderson as they struggle to make their love work amid terrible loss, betrayal and rustlers and make their dream of a bed and breakfast in Santa Fe a reality.

His dog brought Todd Richards and a new vet Dr. Keith Anderson together. Could their love overcome Keith’s loss and Todd’s betrayal? In this funny and touching love story two men, both innocents at love, come together over an injured dog. The heat between them is immediate and unmistakable, but can it carry them through it all? A hot romance that begins in the streets of San Francisco and ends on a lovely ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico where enchantment is real and no one’s heart can survive unscathed.

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Off The Beaten Path by Katrina Strauss

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Indie Reviews

Travis Bell is openly gay to family and friends, but as a college athlete, he chooses not to define himself by his sexuality. When he covers for a friend’s misdeed, he’s forced to renegotiate his future. Carefully. Or he’s going to lose his coveted lacrosse scholarship. The last thing Travis plans on, however, is a “volunteer vacation” in the remote wilderness with members of Omega Beta Pi, a.k.a., Off the Beaten Path, a fraternity devoted to gay rights and environmental causes. To make matters worse, he must share a tent with Kyle Schafer, an opinionated activist who also happens to be the hottest guy Travis has ever met.

Kyle Schafer is a proud activist who disapproves of Travis’s ignorance on issues affecting the environment and the gay community. To his even greater annoyance, Kyle finds himself attracted to his shallow tent mate on a purely physical level. Travis goes against everything Kyle believes in, but that doesn’t dampen the chemistry that sparks between them. Pretty soon, it looks like Travis isn’t the only one who’ll be going off the beaten path.

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